Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with conductive contacts on top, bottom, sides and cutting edge of blade

ABSTRACT

An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade includes top and bottom thin elongated conductive members in vertical alignment and spaced apart from one another along their lengths, a non-conductive coating covering both the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space located between them to create opposing non-conductive sides of the blade with conductive cutting and ends and conductive non-cutting ends exposed, and both return and active contact layers located on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the blade. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability further includes a non-conductive tube member having a slot positioned over the top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to provisional patent applications having Ser.Nos. 62/467,739 and 62/576,213 and their related utility applicationhaving Ser. No. 15/913,569, filed on Mar. 6, 2018. Further, thisapplication claims priority to utility patent application having Ser.No. 15/919,995, filed Mar. 13, 2018, which claims priority toprovisional patent application having Ser. No. 62/470,400, filed Mar.13, 2017, and provisional patent application having Ser. No. 62/576,222,filed Oct. 24, 2017, which are all herein incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade and an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblywhich uses monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting andcoagulation. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is the same as thatdisclosed in provisional applications having Ser. No. 62/467,739 andSer. No. 62/576,213 and their related utility patent application havingSer. No. 15/913,569 [which includes top and bottom thin elongatedconductive members in vertical alignment with one another and spacedapart from one another along their lengths where each of the elongatedconductive members (one of which functions as an active electrode whilethe other functions as a return electrode) includes opposing planarsides, a sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end, and anon-conductive coating covering both opposing sides of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members and the space between themwhere at least a portion of the cutting ends of the top and bottomelongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends remainexposed] but also further includes an active conductive layer and areturn conductive layer on each side of the non-conductive coating thatcovers the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members. The returnconductive layers on each side of the non-conductive coating may bejoined by a return conductive layer that extends over a non-conductivetop or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade thereby providing acontinuous return conductive layer that extends from one non-conductivecoating side of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade to the othernon-conductive coating side of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.Similarly, the active conductive layers on each side of thenon-conductive coating may be joined by an active conductive layer thatextends over a non-conductive top or bottom of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade thereby providing a continuous active conductivelayer that extends from one non-conductive coating side of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade to the other non-conductive coating sideof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade may further include a non-conductive support member/socket havingtwo openings therein in vertical alignment with one another where aportion of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members locatednear their non-cutting ends are respectively contained within one of thetwo openings of the support member/socket so that the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention can be seated and retainedwithin an electrosurgery pencil. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofthe present invention is capable of cutting tissue with the sharpconductive cutting ends of the blade without using RF energy as well ascutting tissue with the sharp non-conductive cutting end/edge that islocated between the sharp conductive cutting ends. In addition, theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention is capable ofcoagulating tissue and/or enhanced cutting of tissue by supplying lowpower to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, and simultaneously cuttingand coagulating tissue by cutting tissue with the sharp cutting ends ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade while coagulating tissue by applyinglow power to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

The present invention is also directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly with argon beam capability which includes the previouslydescribed ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, a non-conductive tube memberhaving a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein and a slotwhere the slot is positioned over the top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member containedwithin at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member where theconductive hollow tubular member includes a conductive projectionextending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular member containedwithin the non-conductive tube member. Argon gas that is suppliedthrough the conductive hollow tubular member and into the non-conductivetube member is ionized and directed by the conductive projection of theconductive hollow tubular member. The non-conductive coating is acontinuous coating that also fills any space located between the sharpcutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members tocreate a sharp non-conductive cutting end of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade located between the sharp conductive cutting endsof the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members. The conductivehollow tubular member contained within the non-conductive tube membermay also include a slot that is positioned over a top portion of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade. The ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly with argon beam capability provides argon plasma coagulation oftissue and/or argon plasma assisted cutting and/or argon plasma assistedcoagulation of tissue depending on the location and configuration of theactive and return electrodes and the active and return conductivecontact layers of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as anelectrosurgical unit or ESU) and a handpiece with an electrode toprovide high frequency, alternating radio frequency (RF) current inputat various voltages to cut or coagulate biological tissue. The handpiecemay be a monopolar instrument with one electrode or a bipolar instrumentwith two electrodes. When using a monopolar instrument, a returnelectrode pad is attached to the patient and the high frequencyelectrical current flows from the generator, to the monopolarinstrument, through the patient to the patient return electrode pad, andback to the generator. Monopolar electrosurgery is commonly used due toits versatility and effectiveness. However, the high power necessary toconduct monopolar electrosurgery and the excessive heat generated withmonopolar electrosurgery can cause excessive tissue damage and necrosisof the tissue because the return electrode positioned on the back of thepatient causes high voltage and high RF energy to pass through thepatient.

In bipolar electrosurgery, active output and patient return functionsboth occur at the surgery site because both the active and returnelectrodes are contained in the bipolar instrument. Therefore, the pathof the electrical current is confined to the biological tissue locatedbetween the active and return electrodes. Although bipolarelectrosurgery enables the use of lower voltages and less energy andthereby reduces or eliminates the likelihood of tissue damage andsparking associated with monopolar electrosurgery, it has limitedability to cut and coagulate large bleeding areas.

Since surgical tools and devices currently available to surgeons requireswitching between cutting and coagulation modes during the surgicalprocedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables asurgeon or user to utilize the best methods used for cutting andcessation of bleeding at the surgical site at the same time, orsimultaneously, in addition to being able to use them separately. Anelectrosurgery blade having a sharp edge for cutting and RF forcoagulation would meet this need. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofthe present invention which uses monopolar energy in a bipolar mode hassharp cutting edges made of a hard conductive material, such asstainless steel, tungsten, etc. that are separated by a sharpnon-conductive cutting edge that can all be used for precisely cuttingtissue without the use of any RF energy. However, RF energy can also beused with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present inventionfor coagulation. When low voltage is used to supply power to theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention forcoagulation, the sharp cutting edges of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade can simultaneously be used for cutting without the need to providehigher voltage to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade to carry out thecutting. Therefore, there is no need to switch over to a cutting mode toperform cutting and instead both cutting and coagulation can beperformed simultaneously at low power levels supplied from thegenerator.

There is also a need for a surgical tool or device that enables asurgeon or user to use low power monopolar energy in a bipolar modewhile performing electrosurgery to avoid or eliminate current diversion,to reduce or eliminate lateral damage to the patient's tissue, and toincrease accuracy and efficiency of the surgery and decrease operatingtime. The low power used to employ the ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeof the present invention for both cutting and coagulation substantiallyreduces the damage to the lateral tissue and the tissue will not stickto the ultrapolar blade. Further, since the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention includes top and bottom conductivemembers/electrodes, as well as active and return conductive contactlayers, that are all attached to the generator, only a very small amountof a patient's tissue located between the electrodes or conductivecontact layers, or adjacent to the electrodes or conductive contactlayers, is included in the circuit thereby eliminating the risk ofcurrent diversion to other parts of the patient that can occur inmonopolar systems where the entire patient is in the circuit.

It is also common to use argon beam coagulators during electrosurgery.In argon beam coagulation (ABC), plasma is applied to tissue by adirected beam of ionized argon gas (plasma) which causes a uniform andshallow coagulation surface thereby stopping blood loss. In someinstances, electrosurgery is often the best method for cutting and argonbeam coagulation is often the best method for cessation of bleedingduring surgery. Surgeons typically need to switch between argon beamcoagulation and electrosurgery modes depending on what is happeningduring the surgery and what they need to achieve at a particular pointin the surgery such as making incisions in tissue by cutting, orstopping the bleeding at the surgical site. Therefore, there is also aneed for a surgical device or tool that enables a surgeon or user toperform electrosurgery with an electrosurgery blade and coagulate tissueusing argon beam coagulation at the surgical site at the same time, orsimultaneously, without the need to switch between argon beamcoagulation and electrosurgery modes. Further still, there is also aneed for an electrosurgical device that enables a user or surgeon tochoose from a number of different separate or combined tissue cuttingand coagulation methods since different methods may work best dependingon the surgical procedure and circumstances that present themselvesduring surgery.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityof the present invention is capable of coagulating a patient's tissueusing argon plasma alone without contacting the patient's tissue (i.e.non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positionednear the top of the electrosurgery blade such that it is in alignmentwith the conductive hollow tubular member through which the argon gas isintroduced and the conductive projection extending from an end of theconductive tube member so that a complete circuit is formed to ionizethe argon gas for argon plasma coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention is also capableof cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge (comprisingboth conductive and non-conductive materials) of the ultrapolar bladealone without any use of RF energy and without any use of argon plasma.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventioncan also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissue using the sharpconductive cutting edges of the ultrapolar blade by also supplying RFenergy to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Moreover, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having a sharpcutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon tosimultaneously perform cutting and coagulation without the need toswitch between cutting and coagulation modes by performing argon plasmaassisted cutting and coagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge ofthe ultrapolar blade can be used without any RF energy for cutting whilethe conductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directedto provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar blade tocoagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while the conductive tubethrough which the argon gas is introduced, and which is contained withinthe non-conductive tube, is activated and directed to provide ionizedargon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

Both the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention andthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beamcapability of the present invention could be used with an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation capability or an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil without smoke evacuation capability. Both theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention and theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability ofthe present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both theefficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or userto perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue eitherseparately or simultaneously. In instances where tissue cutting andcoagulation are performed at the same time without switching betweenmodes or methods, operating time is decreased and the lateral damage tothe tissue is reduced or eliminated. Further, use of monopolar energy ina bipolar mode with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argonbeam capability of the present invention essentially eliminates the riskof current diversion that can occur in monopolar systems. In addition,performing both tissue cutting and coagulation at the same time alongwith smoke evacuation will protect the surgeon and staff from inhalingsmoke and particles. It will also enable the surgeon or user to moreclearly view the surgical site to ensure accuracy during the procedurewithout the need to stop and switch modes in order to stop bleeding atthe surgery site before being able to clearly see the surgical site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery bladewhich uses monopolar energy in a bipolar mode and which includes a) topand bottom thin elongated conductive members in vertical alignment withone another and spaced apart from one another along their lengths whereeach of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members includesopposing planar sides, a sharp cutting end for cutting, and an oppositenon-cutting end, b) a non-conductive coating covering both opposingplanar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members andthe space located between them to create opposing non-conductive sidesof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade where the cutting ends of thethin elongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting endsremain exposed, and c) both return and active conductive contact layerspositioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade. During use, one of the top and bottomthin elongated conductive members functions as an active electrode whilethe other thin elongated conductive member functions as a returnelectrode. Further, the return conductive contact layers located on bothopposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade maybe in communication with the non-cutting end of the thin elongatedconductive member that functions as a return electrode and the activeconductive contact layers located on both opposing non-conductive sidesof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade may be in communication with thenon-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member that functionsas an active electrode. In addition, the return conductive contactlayers on the opposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade may be connected to one another by extending thereturn conductive contact layers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade and the active conductive contact layers on theopposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade maybe connected to one another by extending the active conductive contactlayers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade may further include a non-conductivesupport member/socket having two openings therein positioned in verticalalignment with one another wherein a portion of each of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members located near their non-cuttingends are respectively contained within one of the two openings of thesupport member/socket so that the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention can be seated within, and connected to, anelectrosurgery pencil. The non-conductive support member may havedifferent configurations and shapes depending on whether the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade is used in a telescopic or non-telescopicelectrosurgery pencil.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members may be formed froma single thin conductive member having vertically aligned top and bottomelongated conductive members spaced apart from one another along theirlengths with each having a separate sharp cutting end at one end and anon-cutting end at their opposite ends where their non-cutting ends arejoined. The non-conductive coating may then be applied to the singlethin conductive member (which includes the top and bottom elongatedconductive members and the space located between the top and bottomelongated conductive members) to form an electrosurgery blade where atleast a portion of the cutting ends of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members and their joined opposing non-cutting ends remainexposed and not covered by the non-conductive coating. The joinednon-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongated conductive members canthen be removed to produce separately exposed and unconnectednon-cutting ends for the top and bottom elongated conductive memberswhich can be respectively inserted into a non-conductive supportmember/socket having two openings (as described above).

One advantage in forming the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention using a single thin conductive member havingvertically aligned top and bottom elongated conductive members spacedapart from one another along their lengths with separate sharp cuttingends at one end and joined opposite non-cutting ends where the joinedends are later removed to produce separate non-cutting ends is that itfacilitates the construction and production of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade by providing a unitary component for creatingseparate elements of the blade thereby increasing the consistency andaccuracy of the blades. Another advantage of this type of formation ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blades are the increased efficiencies inthe production of the blades and the reduction in production costs.Still another advantage of this type of blade formation for theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention is that itenhances the strength of the blade as well as the proper functioning ofthe blade.

In one exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofthe present invention, the non-conductive coating covers at least aportion of the top of the top thin elongated conductive member and atleast a portion of the bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductivemember. The non-conductive coating may be a continuous coating that alsofills in any space located between the sharp cutting ends of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members. In another exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention, a portion of the top of the top thin elongated conductivemember is exposed between portions of the non-conductive coating locatedon the top of the electrosurgery blade and a portion of the bottom ofthe bottom thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portionsof the non-conductive coating located on the bottom of theelectrosurgery blade. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention may have a sharp cutting edge that is comprised of the sharpcutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive membersseparated by a sharp non-cutting end comprised of the non-conductivecoating.

The top and bottom thin elongated conductive members (as well as thesingle thin conductive member that the top and bottom elongated membersmay be formed from) may comprise a hard metal such as, for example,stainless steel, titanium, and/or tungsten. The non-conductive coatingof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention and thenon-conductive support member may be comprised of a ceramic material.The return and active contact layers are conductive layers and maycomprise stainless steel, copper, and/or tungsten.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention which usesmonopolar energy in a bipolar mode has sharp cutting edges made of ahard conductive material, such as stainless steel, tungsten, etc. thatare separated by a sharp non-conductive cutting edge that can all beused for precisely cutting tissue without the use of any RF energy.However, RF energy can also be used with the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention for performing tissue coagulation and/orfor enhancing tissue cutting using the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.When low voltage is used to supply power to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention for coagulation, the sharpcutting edges of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade can simultaneouslybe used for cutting without the need to provide higher voltage to theultrapolar electrosurgery blade to carry out the cutting. Therefore,there is no need to switch over to a cutting mode to perform cutting andinstead both cutting and coagulation can be performed simultaneously atlow power levels supplied from the generator.

Only very low power is required to employ the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention for both cutting and coagulation thussubstantially reducing the damage to a patient's lateral tissue. Cuttingis performed using the sharp cutting edge/end of the ultrapolar bladeand coagulation can be performed using any of the conductive members orconductive contact layers that comprise part of the blade. For example,low power can be supplied to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention and the exposed sharp conductive cutting ends of theelongated conductive members covered by the non-conductive coating canbe used to coagulate tissue. In another example, low power can besupplied to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present inventionand tissue coagulation can be performed by tilting the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention on its side so that activeand return conductive layers located on the non-conductive coating ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade come into contact with the patient'stissue to seal small vessels and stop the bleeding. Further, since theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention includes activeand return conductive members/electrodes that are both attached to thegenerator, only a very small amount of a patient's tissue locatedbetween the electrodes or adjacent to the electrodes is included in thecircuit thereby eliminating the risk of current diversion to other partsof the patient that can occur in monopolar systems where the entirepatient is in the circuit.

The present invention is also directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly having argon beam capability. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention includes theultrapolar electrosurgery blade described above and further includes anon-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped openingcontained therein and a slot where the slot is positioned over the topof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubularmember contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tubemember. In one exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly of the present invention, a portion of the top of the topthin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions of thenon-conductive coating located on the top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade and contained within the non-conductive tube memberand the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly further includes aconductive projection extending from the conductive hollow tubularmember contained within the non-conductive tube member. In anotherexemplary embodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofthe present invention, the non-conductive coating covers the top of thetop thin elongated conductive member located between the conductivehollow tubular member and the exposed cutting end of the top thinelongated conductive member and the ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly further includes a conductive projection extending from an endof the conductive hollow tubular member contained within thenon-conductive tube member.

The conductive hollow tubular member contained within the non-conductivetube member may include a slot that, like the slot in the non-conductivetube member, is also positioned over at least a portion of the top ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Like the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, theconductive hollow tubular member, as well as the conductive projections,may comprise a hard metal such as, for example, stainless steel,titanium, and/or tungsten. Further, like the non-conductive coating ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, the non-conductive tube member maybe comprised of a ceramic material.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityof the present invention is capable of coagulating a patient's tissueusing argon plasma alone without contacting the patient's tissue (i.e.non-contact argon beam coagulation). In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade is positionednear the top of the electrosurgery blade such that it is in alignmentwith the conductive hollow tubular member through which the argon gas isintroduced and the conductive projection extending from an end of theconductive tube member so that a complete circuit is formed to ionizethe argon gas for argon plasma coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention is also capableof cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge (comprisingboth conductive and non-conductive materials) of the ultrapolar bladealone without any use of RF energy and without any use of argon plasma.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventioncan also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissue using the sharpconductive cutting edges of the ultrapolar blade by also supplying RFenergy to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. Moreover, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention having a sharpcutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user or surgeon tosimultaneously perform cutting and coagulation without the need toswitch between cutting and coagulation modes by performing argon plasmaassisted cutting and coagulation. For example, the sharp cutting edge ofthe ultrapolar blade can be used without any RF energy for cutting whilethe conductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directedto provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue. Inanother example, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar blade tocoagulate tissue or enhance cutting of tissue while the conductive tubethrough which the argon gas is introduced, and which is contained withinthe non-conductive tube, is activated and directed to provide ionizedargon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

Both the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention andthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beamcapability of the present invention could be used with an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation capability or an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil without smoke evacuation capability. Both theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention and theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability ofthe present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both theefficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or userto perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue eitherseparately or simultaneously. In instances where tissue cutting andcoagulation are performed at the same time without switching betweenmodes or methods, operating time is decreased and the lateral damage tothe tissue is reduced or eliminated. Further, use of monopolar energy ina bipolar mode with the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention and the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argonbeam capability of the present invention essentially eliminates the riskof current diversion that can occur in monopolar systems. In addition,performing both tissue cutting and coagulation at the same time alongwith smoke evacuation will protect the surgeon and staff from inhalingsmoke and particles. It will also enable the surgeon or user to moreclearly view the surgical site to ensure accuracy during the procedurewithout the need to stop and switch modes in order to stop bleeding atthe surgery site before being able to clearly see the surgical site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the thin conductivemember having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members used tomake the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the thinconductive member having top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers used to make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 represents what the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention looks like at a middle stage in the process of makingthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and shows the exemplary embodimentof the thin conductive member of FIG. 1 coated with a non-conductivecoating except for the cutting ends and the joined non-cutting ends ofthe top and bottom elongated conductive members where the non-conductivecoating is represented by light shade hash marks and/or hash marks madeof unconnected dots;

FIG. 4 is a front end view of a support member/socket/connector memberwhich retains a portion of the unconnected non-cutting ends of the topand bottom elongated conductive members of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention thereby facilitating the connection ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention to anelectrosurgery pencil.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the incomplete middle stage blade of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3with the thin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the incomplete middle stage blade of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3with the thin conductive member shown in phantom;

FIG. 7 is an external side view showing the incomplete middle stageblade of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade shown in FIG. 3 with thejoined portion of the non-cutting ends of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members removed and the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers covered by the non-conductive coating shown in phantom;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the incomplete middle stage blade of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 7with the top elongated conductive member covered by the non-conductivecoating shown in phantom;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the incomplete middle stage blade of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 7with the bottom elongated conductive member covered by thenon-conductive coating shown in phantom;

FIG. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a supportmember/connector member into which unconnected non-cutting ends of thetop and bottom elongated conductive members of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade are placed so that the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention can be connected to, and unconnected orremoved from, an electrosurgery pencil;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the support member/connector member shown inFIG. 10 showing conductive unconnected non-cutting ends of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention retained withinthe openings in the support member/connector member;

FIG. 12 is a partial top view of another incomplete middle stage bladeembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention showing a sharp cutting end beveled on both sides to create asharp cutting tip;

FIGS. 13-14 are opposing external side views showing an exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention made from the incomplete middle stage blade embodiments shownin FIGS. 3 and 5-9;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIGS.13-16;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are opposing perspective side views of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 13-16 to further reveal the shape of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention;

FIGS. 20-21 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention when used in anon-telescopic electrosurgery pencil;

FIGS. 22-23 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention when used in a telescopicelectrosurgery pencil;

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention havingargon beam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation;

FIG. 25 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability for providing argon plasma assistedcoagulation with the return electrode extending along part of the bottomof the ultrapolar blade; and

FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodimentof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionhaving argon beam capability which is capable of providing both argonplasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade andultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability ofthe present invention enable the surgeon or user to increase both theefficiency and accuracy of the surgery by enabling the surgeon or userto perform different methods of cutting and coagulating tissue eitherseparately or simultaneously. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention is capable of cutting tissue with the sharp conductivecutting ends of the blade without using RF energy as well as cuttingtissue with the sharp non-conductive cutting end/edge that is locatedbetween the sharp conductive cutting ends. In addition, the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention is capable of coagulatingtissue and/or enhanced cutting of tissue by supplying very low power,such as 5 to 15 watts, to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade, andsimultaneously cutting and coagulating tissue by cutting tissue with thesharp cutting ends of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade whilecoagulating tissue by applying very low power to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present inventionwith a sharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enables a user orsurgeon to perform cutting and coagulation without the need to switchbetween cutting and coagulation modes. It also enables a user or surgeonto choose from a number of different separate or combined tissue cuttingand coagulation methods since different methods may work best dependingon the surgical procedure and circumstances that present themselvesduring surgery. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argonbeam capability of the present invention is capable of coagulating apatient's tissue using argon plasma alone without contacting thepatient's tissue (i.e. non-contact argon beam coagulation). Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the present invention isalso capable of cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge(comprising both conductive and non-conductive materials) of theultrapolar blade alone without any use of RF energy and without any useof argon plasma. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of thepresent invention can also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissueusing the sharp conductive cutting edges of the ultrapolar blade by alsosupplying RF energy to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

Further, the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of the presentinvention having a sharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enablesa user or surgeon to simultaneously perform cutting and coagulationwithout the need to switch between cutting and coagulation modes byperforming argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation. For example,the sharp cutting edge of the ultrapolar blade can be used without anyRF energy for cutting while the conductive tube through which the argongas is introduced, and which is contained within the non-conductivetube, is activated and directed to provide ionized argon gas for argonplasma coagulation of tissue. In another example, low power may beapplied to the ultrapolar blade to coagulate tissue using the active andreturn electrodes or the active and return conductive layers or toenhance cutting of tissue using the active and return electrodes whilethe conductive tube through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube, is activated and directedto provide ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

The identity of the elements/features that relate to the numbers shownin the drawing figures are as follows:

-   -   10 incomplete middle stage blade of the ultrapolar        electrosurgery blade    -   11 thin conductive member    -   12 top thin elongated conductive member    -   14 bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   16 elongated space between top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members    -   18 opposing planar sides (of top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members)    -   22 sharp cutting end of top thin elongated conductive member    -   24 sharp cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   26 opposite non-cutting end of top thin elongated conductive        member    -   28 opposite non-cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive        member    -   30 portion of thin conductive member joining opposite        non-cutting ends of top and bottom thin elongated conductive        members 26 and 28    -   31 thin conductive member    -   32 top thin elongated conductive member    -   34 bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   36 elongated space between top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members    -   38 opposing planar sides (of top and bottom thin elongated        conductive members)    -   42 sharp cutting end of top thin elongated conductive member    -   44 sharp cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   46 opposite non-cutting end of top thin elongated conductive        member    -   48 opposite non-cutting end of bottom thin elongated conductive        member    -   50 portion of thin conductive member joining opposite        non-cutting ends of top and bottom thin elongated conductive        members 46 and 48    -   60 non-conductive coating/housing    -   62 non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member    -   63 rounded top portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member)    -   65 rounded bottom portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member)    -   64 two vertically aligned openings    -   66 top of the top thin elongated conductive member    -   68 bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member    -   70 sharp non-conductive cutting end    -   72 non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member for        ultrapolar telescopic electrosurgery pencil    -   73 rounded top portion (of non-conductive support        member/socket/connecting member for ultrapolar telescopic        electrosurgery pencil)    -   74 two vertically aligned openings    -   80 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention    -   82 opposing non-conductive sides (of the ultrapolar        electrosurgery blade 80)    -   84 return conductive layers    -   86 active conductive layers    -   100 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   120 non-conductive tube member    -   122 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   124 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   130 conductive hollow tubular member    -   132 conductive projection    -   200 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   220 non-conductive tube member    -   222 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   224 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   230 conductive hollow tubular member    -   232 conductive projection    -   300 ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly    -   320 non-conductive tube member    -   322 hollow tubular shaped opening (of non-conductive tube        member)    -   324 slot (of non-conductive tube member)    -   330 conductive hollow tubular member    -   332 conductive projection    -   334 slot (of conductive hollow tubular member)

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a thin conductivemember 11 having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 12, 14used to make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the presentinvention. Thin conductive member 11 includes a top thin elongatedconductive member 12 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 14 invertical alignment with one another and separated from one another alongtheir lengths by a space 16. The top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 each have opposing planar sides 18, a sharp cutting end22, 24 and an opposite non-cutting end 26, 28 where the oppositenon-cutting ends 26, 28 are joined by a portion 30 of the thinconductive member 11. In one exemplary embodiment of the thin conductivemember 11, the sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the thin conductive member11 form an angle X relative to a plane that is in horizontal alignmentwith the bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductive member 14 whereX is a sixty degree angle.

A side view of another exemplary embodiment of a thin conductive member31 having top and bottom thin elongated conductive members 32, 34 usedto make the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 of the present inventionis shown in FIG. 2. Like the thin conductive member 11 shown in FIG. 1,thin conductive member 31 includes a top thin elongated conductivemember 32 and a bottom thin elongated conductive member 34 in verticalalignment with one another and separated from one another along theirlengths by a space 36. The top and bottom elongated conductive members32, 34 each have opposing planar sides 38, a sharp cutting end 42, 44and an opposite non-cutting end 46, 48 where the opposite non-cuttingends 46, 48 are joined by a portion 50 of the thin conductive member 31.As shown in FIG. 2, the sharp cutting end 42 of top thin elongatedconductive member 32 extends well beyond the sharp cutting end 44 of thebottom thin elongated conductive member 34 and the angle of the sharpcutting end 44 in relation to the bottom of the bottom thin elongatedconductive member 34 is much steeper than the angle of the sharp cuttingend 42 in relation to the bottom of the top thin elongated conductivemember 32. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that thesharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade may include any number ofshapes and/or configurations depending on the type and circumstances ofthe surgical procedure to be performed using the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.

FIG. 3 represents what the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of thepresent invention looks like at a middle stage in the process of makingthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and shows the exemplary embodimentof the thin conductive member 11 of FIG. 1 coated with a non-conductivecoating 60 except for the cutting ends 22, 24 and the joined non-cuttingends 26, 28, 30 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12,14 where the non-conductive coating 60 is represented by light shadehash marks and/or hash marks made of unconnected dots. FIG. 5 is a topview of the incomplete middle stage blade 10 of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with thethin conductive member 11 shown in phantom and FIG. 6 is a bottom viewof the incomplete middle stage blade 10 of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 with the thin conductivemember 11 shown in phantom. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5-6, thenon-conductive coating 60 covers the thin conductive member 11 exceptfor sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongate conductivemembers 12, 14, a portion of the top 66 of the of the top elongatedconductive member 12, a portion of the bottom 68 of the bottom elongatedconductive member 14, the non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the top and bottomelongated conductive members 12, 14 and the portion 30 of the thinconductive member 11 that joins the non-cutting ends 26, 28.

After the non-conductive coating 60 is applied to the thin conductivemember 11 and the coating 60 is set, the portion 30 that joins thenon-cutting ends 26, 28 is removed as shown in FIG. 7 to provide amiddle stage ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 having unconnectedconductive non-cutting ends 26, 28 supported by a supportmember/socket/connecting member 62 which facilitates connection of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention to anelectrosurgery pencil. FIG. 7 is an external side view showing theincomplete middle stage blade 10 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeshown in FIG. 3 with the joined portion 30 of the non-cutting ends 26,28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 removed andmost of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 coveredby the non-conductive coating 60 shown in phantom. Advantages in formingthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention using asingle thin conductive member 11 having vertically aligned top andbottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 spaced apart from one anotheralong their lengths with separate sharp cutting ends 22, 24 at one endand joined opposite non-cutting ends 26, 28, 30 where the joined endsare later removed to produce separate non-cutting ends 26, 28 include 1)facilitation of the construction and production of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention by providing a unitarycomponent for creating separate elements of the blade thereby increasingthe consistency and accuracy of the blades, 2) increased efficiencies inthe production of the blades and the reduction in production costs, and3) enhanced strength of the blade as well as the enhanced properfunctioning of the blade.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the incomplete middle stage blade 10 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention shown in FIG. 7with the top elongated conductive member 12 covered by thenon-conductive coating 60 shown in phantom. A portion of the top 66 ofthe top elongated conductive member 12 is exposed between portions ofnon-conductive coating 60 located on a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade. FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the incomplete middlestage blade 10 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 7 with the bottom elongated conductive member 14covered by the non-conductive coating 60 shown in phantom. A portion ofthe bottom 68 of the bottom elongated conductive member 14 is exposedbetween portions of non-conductive coating 60 located on a bottom of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the non-conductive coating is a continuouscoating that fills elongated space 16 located between the top and bottomelongated conductive members 12, 14 as well as any space located betweenthe sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of the top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14. The space between the sharp cutting ends 22, 24 of thetop and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 that is filled withthe non-conductive coating 60 forms a sharp non-conductive cutting end70 positioned between the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

FIG. 10 is a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a supportmember/socket/connector member 62 into which unconnected non-cuttingends 26, 28 of the top and bottom elongated conductive members 12, 14 ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade are placed so that the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of the present invention can be easily connectedto, and unconnected or removed from, an electrosurgery pencil. Thesupport member/socket/connector member 62 includes two verticallyaligned openings 64 so that conductive non-cutting ends 26, 28 can berespectively retained in them. An end view of the supportmember/connector member 62 shown in FIG. 10 showing conductiveunconnected non-cutting ends 26, 28 of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of the present invention retained within the openings 64 in thesupport member/socket/connector member 62 is shown in FIG. 11.

A partial top view of another incomplete middle stage blade embodiment10 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present inventionshowing a sharp cutting end beveled on both sides to create a sharpcutting tip 22 is shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS. 13-14 are opposing external side views showing an exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 of the presentinvention made from the incomplete middle stage blade embodiments 10shown in FIGS. 3 and 5-9. The non-conductive coating 60 covers bothopposing planar sides of the top and bottom thin elongated conductivemembers and the space located between them (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7)to create opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 where the cutting ends 22, 24 of the thinelongated conductive members (not shown as they are covered withnon-conductive coating 60) and their opposite non-cutting ends 26, 28remain exposed. Both return and active conductive layers 84, 86 arepositioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80. During use, one of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members functions as an activeelectrode (see 22) while the other thin elongated conductive memberfunctions as a return electrode (see 24). Further, the return conductivelayers 84 located on both opposing non-conductive sides 82 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 may be in communication with thenon-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member that functionsas a return electrode (see 28) and the active conductive contact layers86 located on both opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 may be in communication with the non-cutting endof the thin elongated conductive member that functions as an activeelectrode (see 26).

As shown in FIG. 13, one end of the return conductive layer 84 locatedon non-conductive side 82 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 islocated near the cutting end 22 of the thin elongated conductive memberthat functions as an active electrode. Return conductive layer 84extends diagonally across the non-conductive side 82 of the blade 80 andthe other end of the return conductive layer 84 is in communication withthe non-cutting end of the thin elongated conductive member thatfunctions as a return electrode (see 28). The active conductive layer 86located on conductive side 82 of blade 80 is positioned beneath and invertical alignment with return conductive layer 84 and one end of theactive conductive layer 86 is located near the cutting end 24 of thethin elongated conductive member that functions as a return electrode.The other end of active conductive layer 86 ends near a bottom of theblade 80 near a mid-portion of the blade 80. As shown in FIG. 14, thereturn and active conductive layers 84, 86 located on the oppositenon-conductive side 82 of the blade 80 comprise the exact opposite ofthe return and active conductive layer configurations that they have inFIG. 13. The path/configuration of the active conductive layer 86 on theopposite non-conductive side 82 not shown in FIG. 13 is shown in phantomwhile the path/configuration of the return conductive layer 84 on theopposite non-conductive side 82 not shown in FIG. 14 is shown inphantom.

In addition, the return conductive contact layers 84 on the opposingnon-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 may beconnected to one another by extending the return conductive contactlayers 84 over a top or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80and the active conductive contact layers 86 on the opposingnon-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 may beconnected to one another by extending the active conductive contactlayers 86 over a top or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade80. FIG. 15 is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 of the present invention shown in FIG. 13 andFIG. 16 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 of the present invention shown in FIG. 13. FIGS.13 and 15 show return conductive layers 84 connected to one another byextending over a top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 whileFIGS. 14 and 16 show active conductive layers 86 connected to oneanother by extending over a bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 80.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 of the present invention shown inFIGS. 13-16. FIG. 17 clearly shows sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24which function as active and return electrodes, respectively, and sharpnon-conductive cutting end 74 comprised of the non-conductive coating 60located between the sharp conductive cutting ends 22, 24. FIG. 17 alsoclearly shows a portion of the top 66 of the top elongated conductivemember 12 exposed between portions of non-conductive coating 60 locatedon top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 and in communicationwith the sharp cutting end 22. Both return and active conductive layers84, 86 are located on each opposing non-conductive side 82 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are opposing perspective side views of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 13-16 to further reveal the shape of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade of the present invention. Thenon-conductive coating 60 covers both opposing planar sides of the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members and the space locatedbetween them to create opposing non-conductive sides 82 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 where the cutting ends 22, 24 of thethin elongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends26, 28 remain exposed. Both return and active conductive layers 84, 86are positioned on each of the opposing non-conductive sides 82 of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80. During use, one of the top andbottom thin elongated conductive members functions as an activeelectrode (see 22) while the other thin elongated conductive memberfunctions as a return electrode (see 24). The return conductive layers84 located on both opposing non-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 are in communication with the non-cutting end ofthe thin elongated conductive member that functions as a returnelectrode (see 28) and the active conductive layers 86 located on bothopposing non-conductive sides 82 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade80 are in communication with the non-cutting end of the thin elongatedconductive member that functions as an active electrode (see 26).

FIGS. 20-21 show different views of an exemplary non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member 62 that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 of the present invention when used in anon-telescopic electrosurgery pencil and FIGS. 22-23 show differentviews of an exemplary embodiment of the non-conductive supportmember/socket/connector member 72 that comprises part of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 of the present invention when used in atelescopic electrosurgery pencil. Non-conductive supportmember/socket/connecting member 62 includes a rounded top portion 63, arounded bottom portion 65, and two vertically aligned openings 64 forreceiving non-cutting ends 26, 28 of top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 and/or portions of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 located near the non-cutting ends 26, 28.Non-conductive support member/socket/connecting member 72 includes arounded top portion 73 and two vertically aligned openings 74 forreceiving non-cutting ends 26, 28 of top and bottom elongated conductivemembers 12, 14 and/or portions of the top and bottom elongatedconductive members 12, 14 located near the non-cutting ends 26, 28.

A partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly 100 of the present invention having argonbeam capability for providing argon plasma assisted coagulation is shownin FIG. 24. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 100 includes theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 previously described above andfurther includes a non-conductive tube member 120 having a hollowtubular shaped opening 122 contained therein and a slot 124 where theslot is positioned over a top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 100 further includes aconductive hollow tubular member 130 that is contained within at least aportion of the non-conductive tube member 120. Conductive hollow tubularmember 130 may also include a conductive projection 132. The sharpcutting edge (comprising conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated bysharp non-conductive cutting end 70) or a portion of the sharp cuttingedge can be used without RF energy for cutting while argon gas isintroduced through the conductive hollow tubular member 130 containedwithin the non-conductive tube member 120 while the conductive hollowtubular member 130 is activated and the conductive projection 132 candirect the ionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue.Alternatively, low power may be applied to the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 80 to coagulate tissue (using conductive cutting edges 22, 24which act as active and return electrodes or return and activeconductive layers 84, 86) or to enhance cutting of tissue (usingconductive cutting edges 22, 24 which act as active and returnelectrodes) while argon gas is introduced through the conductive hollowtubular member 130 contained within the non-conductive tube member 120while the conductive hollow tubular member 130 is activated and theconductive projection 132 can direct the ionized argon gas for argonplasma coagulation of tissue.

FIG. 25 is a side perspective view of another exemplary embodiment ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 200 of the presentinvention having argon beam capability for providing argon plasmaassisted coagulation with the return electrode extending along part ofthe bottom of the ultrapolar blade 80. Ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly 200 includes the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 previouslydescribed above and further includes a non-conductive tube member 220having a hollow tubular shaped opening 222 contained therein and a slot224 where the slot is positioned over a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly200 further includes a conductive hollow tubular member 230 that iscontained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member220. Conductive hollow tubular member 230 may also include a conductiveprojection 232. The sharp cutting edge (comprising conductive cuttingends 22, 24 separated by sharp non-conductive cutting end 70) or aportion of the sharp cutting edge can be used without RF energy forcutting while argon gas is introduced through the conductive hollowtubular member 230 contained within the non-conductive tube member 220while the conductive hollow tubular member 230 is activated and theconductive projection 232 can direct the ionized argon gas for argonplasma coagulation of tissue. Alternatively, low power may be applied tothe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 to coagulate tissue (usingconductive cutting edges 22, 24 which act as active and returnelectrodes or using return and active conductive layers 84, 86) or toenhance cutting of tissue (using conductive cutting edges 22, 24 whichact as active and return electrodes) while argon gas is introducedthrough the conductive hollow tubular member 230 contained within thenon-conductive tube member 220 while the conductive hollow tubularmember 230 is activated and the conductive projection 232 can direct theionized argon gas for argon plasma coagulation of tissue therebyemploying argon plasma assisted cutting and/or coagulation.

FIG. 26 is a side perspective view of still another exemplary embodimentof the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 of the presentinvention having argon beam capability which is capable of providingboth argon plasma coagulation and argon plasma assisted coagulation.Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 includes the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 80 previously described above and further includesa non-conductive tube member 320 having a hollow tubular shaped opening322 contained therein and a slot 324 where the slot is positioned over atop of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly 300 further includes a conductive hollowtubular member 330 that is contained within at least a portion of thenon-conductive tube member 320. Conductive hollow tubular member 330 mayalso include a conductive projection 332. In this embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300, an exposed portion of thereturn electrode 22 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 ispositioned near the top of the electrosurgery blade 80 that is comprisedof non-conductive coating 60 such that it is in alignment with theconductive hollow tubular member 330, through which the argon gas isintroduced, and the conductive projection 332 extending from an end ofthe conductive tubular member 332 so that a complete circuit is formedto ionize the argon gas for argon plasma coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly 300 of the present invention is alsocapable of cutting a patient's tissue using the sharp cutting edge(comprising conductive cutting ends 22, 24 separated by sharpnon-conductive cutting end 70) of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80alone without any use of RF energy and without any use of argon plasma.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 of the presentinvention can also enhance the cutting of a patient's tissue using thesharp conductive cutting edges 22, 24 of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade 80 by also supplying RF energy to the exposed portion of theactive electrode 24 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80. Moreover,the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly 300 of the presentinvention having a sharp cutting edge and argon beam capability enablesa user or surgeon to simultaneously perform cutting and coagulationwithout the need to switch between cutting and coagulation modes byperforming argon plasma assisted cutting and coagulation. For example,the sharp cutting edge of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 can beused without any RF energy for cutting while the conductive hollowtubular member 330 through which the argon gas is introduced, and whichis contained within the non-conductive tube member 320, is activated anddirected via conductive projection 332 to provide ionized argon gas forargon plasma coagulation of tissue. In another example, low power may beapplied to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 80 to coagulate tissue(using conductive cutting edges 22, 24 which act as return and activeelectrodes or using return and active conductive layers 84, 86) or toenhance cutting of tissue (using conductive cutting edges 22, 24 whichact as return and active electrodes) while the conductive hollow tubularmember 330 through which the argon gas is introduced, and which iscontained within the non-conductive tube member 320, is activated anddirected via the conductive projection 332 to provide ionized argon gasfor argon plasma coagulation of tissue.

The drawings and description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein shows various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Theseexemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended toteach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes andany equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to thosereasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples arenon-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, whichsimilarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments thatare known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used inthe practice of the instant invention, in addition to those notspecifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted tospecific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters,or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of theinstant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the wordsand phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonlyaccepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used bythose of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance wherethese meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification andthe claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. Ifany other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, thespecification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

1. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade comprising: a top thin elongatedconductive member and a bottom thin elongated conductive member invertical alignment with one another and spaced apart from one anotheralong their lengths to form a space between the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members wherein each of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members includes opposing planar sides, a sharpcutting end and an opposite non-cutting end; a non-conductive coatingthat covers both opposing planar sides of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members and that fills the space between the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members to create opposingnon-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade wherein atleast a portion of the sharp cutting ends of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members and their opposite non-cutting ends remainexposed, and wherein at least a portion of a top of the top thinelongated conductive member is exposed between portions ofnon-conductive coating located on a top of the electrosurgery blade andat least a portion of a bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductivemember is exposed between portions of non-conductive coating located ona bottom of the electrosurgery blade; and both a return conductivecontact layer and an active conductive contact layer positioned on eachof the opposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade.
 2. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein thereturn conductive contact layers are in communication with thenon-cutting end of one of the top or bottom thin elongated conductivemembers and the active conductive contact layers are in communicationwith the non-cutting end of the other of the top or bottom thinelongated conductive members.
 3. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade ofclaim 1 wherein the return conductive contact layers on each of theopposing non-conductive sides of ultrapolar electrosurgery blade areconnected to one another by extending the return conductive contactlayers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade andthe active conductive contact layers on each of the opposingnon-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade areconnected to one another by extending the active conductive contactlayers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade. 4.The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 further comprising anon-conductive support member having two openings therein in verticalalignment with one another wherein a portion of said top thin elongatedconductive member is contained within one of the two openings and aportion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member is containedwithin the other of the two openings.
 5. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade of claim 1 wherein the non-conductive coating covers at least aportion of a top of the top thin elongated conductive member and atleast a portion of a bottom of the bottom thin elongated conductivemember.
 6. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein thenon-conductive coating is a continuous coating that also fills any spacelocated between the sharp conductive cutting ends of the top and bottomthin elongated conductive members to form a non-conductive sharp cuttingend located between the conductive sharp cutting ends.
 7. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members comprise a hard metal and thenon-conductive coating comprises a ceramic material.
 8. An ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly that includes the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of claim 1 and further comprises: a non-conductivetube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening contained therein anda slot wherein the slot is positioned over a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade; and a conductive hollow tubular member containedwithin at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.
 9. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 8 wherein at least aportion of a top of the top thin elongated conductive member is exposedbetween portions of the non-conductive coating located on a top of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade and contained within the non-conductivetube member and the electrosurgery blade assembly further comprises aconductive projection extending from the conductive hollow tubularmember contained within the non-conductive tube member.
 10. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 8 wherein thenon-conductive coating covers a top of the top thin elongated conductivemember located between the conductive hollow tubular member and theexposed cutting end of the top thin elongated conductive member and theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly further comprises a conductiveprojection extending from an end of the conductive hollow tubular membercontained within the non-conductive tube member.
 11. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of claim 8 further comprising anon-conductive support member having two openings therein in verticalalignment with one another wherein a portion of said top thin elongatedconductive member is contained within one of the two openings and aportion of the bottom thin elongated conductive member is containedwithin the other of the two openings.
 12. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly of claim 8 the non-conductive coating is a continuouscoating that also fills any space located between the sharp conductivecutting ends of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members toform a non-conductive sharp cutting end located between the conductivesharp cutting ends.
 13. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the return conductive contact layers are incommunication with the non-cutting end of one of the top and bottom thinelongated conductive members and the active conductive contact layersare in communication with the non-cutting end of the other of the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members.
 14. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of claim 8 wherein the return conductivecontact layers on each of the opposing non-conductive sides ofultrapolar electrosurgery blade are connected to one another byextending the return conductive contact layers over a top or bottom ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and the active conductive contactlayers on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade are connected to one another by extending theactive conductive contact layers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.
 15. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblyof claim 8 wherein the top and bottom thin elongated conductive membersand the conductive hollow tubular member comprise a hard metal.
 16. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 8 wherein thenon-conductive coating and the non-conductive tube member comprise aceramic material.
 17. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblycomprising: a top thin elongated conductive member and a bottom thinelongated conductive member in vertical alignment with one another andspaced apart from one another along their lengths to form a spacebetween the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members whereineach of the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members includesopposing planar sides, a sharp cutting end and an opposite non-cuttingend; a non-conductive coating that covers both opposing planar sides ofthe top and bottom thin elongated conductive members and that fills thespace between the top and bottom thin elongated conductive members tocreate opposing non-conductive sides of an ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade wherein at least a portion of the sharp cutting ends of the topand bottom thin elongated conductive members and their oppositenon-cutting ends remain exposed, and wherein at least a portion of a topof the top thin elongated conductive member is exposed between portionsof non-conductive coating located on a top of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade and at least a portion of a bottom of the bottomthin elongated conductive member is exposed between portions ofnon-conductive coating located on a bottom of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade; a non-conductive tube member having a hollowtubular shaped opening contained therein and a slot wherein the slot ispositioned over a top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade such thatat least a portion of the top of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade iscontained within the slot; and a conductive hollow tubular membercontained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.18. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 17 furthercomprising both a return conductive contact layer and an activeconductive contact layer positioned on each of the opposingnon-conductive sides of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade.
 19. Theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 18 wherein the returnconductive contact layers on each of the opposing non-conductive sidesof ultrapolar electrosurgery blade are connected to one another byextending the return conductive contact layers over a top or bottom ofthe ultrapolar electrosurgery blade and the active conductive contactlayers on each of the opposing non-conductive sides of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade are connected to one another by extending theactive conductive contact layers over a top or bottom of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade.
 20. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofclaim 18 wherein the return conductive contact layers are incommunication with the non-cutting end of one of the top or bottom thinelongated conductive members and the active conductive contact layersare in communication with the non-cutting end of the other of the top orbottom thin elongated conductive members.